Horton non-parade: 1 p.m. start for event that will not be

HORTON BAY - If a parade is canceled but everyone still shows up, is it still not a parade?

That's what Horton Bay General Store owners plan to find out with their Fourth of July non-parade event at noon on July 4 in front of their store.

"We're just going to sit on the front porch and have a beer and wave at cars that go by," said Claudia Lorenger, co-owner of the store.

The Horton Bay Parade was canceled this year after long-time organizers Sue and Bob Metzger stepped down from their role.

"People are a little unhappy about it (no parade) but I actually feel pretty good about it," Lorenger said. "We weren't getting much help and finances are a little rough for everybody this year, so we're probably going to do it every other year until things get better."

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Local resident Ron Willey said he won't let the lack of a parade prevent him from entertaining the crowd.

"At about noon a little group of people with instruments will be playing music in front of the general store," he said. "The last few times we marched and kind of posed as the ghost of Sousa and people got a kick out of it."

General store worker Tony Matthews said it will be the ghost of the parade.

"We pride ourselves on being different," he said. "It's Horton Bay, so we've got to do something weird."

So far, Lorenger said, nearly 45 people have indicated they will attend the non-parade.

"If it isn't screwy, it isn't Horton Bay," she said.

The public is welcome to bring lawn chairs and beverages and attend the non-event.